mnd

We are wanting to visit Italy (never been)and are debating between a Med. cruise that stops in Rome,Florence,Venice, etc.and just staying in Rome and Florence for several days each. Any opinions?

mcnyc

Depends on what you want from the trip. A Med. Cruise will give you many more destinations, but a very short stay so you can say you've been there and get a taste of the cities. Going on your own to Rome and Florence, you can spend all your money that would have been spent on a cruise living in luxury in these 2 cities.

My first trip to Italy was on my own to visit friends in Florence. It was great to stay in one place and roam all around, taking day trips here and there. However many days you stay, it will never be enough! The train system is very easy and fast. Rome to Florence is 1h40m. Florence to Venice is 2h40m. On Eurostars though (go 2nd class to save $$$ for fun).

My second trip to Italy, I went on a cruise starting from Savona. The ports were completely new to me so I got a taste of the all the cities, enough to entice a future return trip to certain cities (others, I don't mind visiting again for a few hours, but no more than that). Plus, then the second time around, you're a little less green, if you will.

What we did was take the cruise, then traveled on our own afterwards. I thought this was the best of both worlds, but it really does depend on how much time you can take from work. If you have the time, this is what I would recommend you do.

One warning about the cruises stopping at Florence and Rome in case you don't already know. For Rome, you stop in Citavecchia. For Florence, you stop in Livorno. I've never been to either port, so perhaps someone else can give you first hand info, but I do know you will only have a very brief taste of each city on a cruise. For Venice, of course you're sailing right through the city.

Enjoy either way.

Intrepid1

We've done both and yes, the cruise stop for Rome is Civitavecchia (an hour train ride from Rome) and Livorno for Florence (about 1.5 hours out).

If you want to really have the time to thoroughly enjoy these and other destinations my advice would be NOT to cruise but go there on a land-based trip.

ira

Hi M,

A Med cruise and a visit to Italy are not the same. They are enjoyable in their own ways.

If I only had a week, I would split it between Venice and Florence.

Songdoc

Why not have the best of both worlds? That's what I did. Stayed four days in Rome and loved every minute of it. I didn't want to leave -- but took the train to Civitivecchia to board my cruise and also loved getting a "taste" of additional cities. And FYI, some cruises spend two full days in Venice.